Thornberry says Margaret Thatcher was a political hero

Courtesy Mac Thornberry
U.S. Rep. Mac Thornberry, R-Clarendon, shaking hands former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher at a charity event in the late 1990s in Amarillo. Thornberry introduced Thatcher.

Courtesy Mac Thornberry
U.S. Rep. Mac Thornberry, R-Clarendon, shakes hands with former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher at an Amarillo charity event in the late 1990s. Thornberry introduced Thatcher, saying, “(I) t was the most nervous I have ever been before a speech.”$RETURN$$RETURN$

WASHINGTON — The Iron Lady’s passing brought out the softer side of Texas Republicans who fondly hailed her accomplishments, love for the United States, dedication to freedom and conservatism.

But for U.S. Rep. Mac Thornberry, Margaret Thatcher’s death Monday in London of a stroke at 87 marked the passing of a political hero.

As a 30-year-old, Thornberry hoarded frequent flyer miles to travel to England with wife Sally and see Thatcher in action.

They sat in the Strangers’ Gallery in the House of Commons and watched Britain’s first female prime minister answer lawmakers’ questions “in that not exactly combative but vigorous style of hers,” Thornberry of Clarendon said.

Imagine President Obama showing up regularly to respond publicly to challenging questions from Democratic and Republican lawmakers in the House of Representatives, and you’ll have some idea of Question Time in Parliament.

Thornberry’s hero didn’t disappoint during his late 1980s visit.

“I just remember being in the chamber, thinking about how she had to be up on all these different issues and just how impressive she was, how in command of the situation she was,” he said.

Seeing Thatcher was the highlight of that trip. His wife Sally was pregnant with their first child and had morning sickness at all hours, but she was a good sport as usual, even hitchhiking a little during their pilgrimage to the grave of Winston Churchill. He is another of Thornberry’s political heroes, along with Ronald Reagan and Abraham Lincoln.

Thornberry, a Texas rancher, allowed that “maybe” he is an Anglophile.

“I have a lot of respect for our shared history with Britain,” he said.

As a congressman, Thornberry got a rare chance to meet Thatcher. He gave a speech to introduce her at a charity event in the late 1990s in Amarillo.

In office about three years, Thornberry already had countless speeches under his belt, but this was different.

“It was the most nervous I have ever been before a speech,” he said.

Thornberry labored over finding the right words to usher Thatcher to the podium.

“It was one of the speeches that I wrote out exactly what I wanted to say rather than just speaking from notes,” he said. “I had to practice it in front

of Sally.”

Thatcher is a historic figure, Thornberry said.

“If you are going to introduce somebody like that, you ought to do it right,” he said.

Up close, his hero was gracious, inviting him to visit her in London. He didn’t take her up on that, but Thornberry’s regard for her hasn’t paled over the years.

“Reagan, Pope John Paul and Thatcher were the key historic figures in talking about the importance of freedom around the world and pushing back against the Soviet Union,” Thornberry said.

Upon Thatcher’s death, an outpouring of admiration and respect also flowed from other Texas Republicans.

U.S. Rep. Randy Neugebauer of Lubbock called her “a rare leader whose influence stretched far beyond the time and place of her position.”

U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz praised Thatcher, saying, “Utterly fearless, she never once went wobbly.”

U.S. Sen. John Cornyn said she was “formidable in every respect” and “a steadfast defender of liberty.”

Washington correspondent Trish Choate can be reached at 202-408-2709 or choatet@shns.com.